Niches

ABSTRACT

A window opening in one exterior wall of a mausoleum or like building is filled with box-shaped niches which are each of ample size to hold an urn for the ashes of a deceased person. Each niche has a transparent or translucent inner end panel which may be decorative and which is removably attached to the inner end of the niche, and each niche has a decorative outer end face with a light-transmitting portion which is permanently attached to the outer end of the niche. Each inner end panel contains glass inserts which are illuminated by outside light through the lighttransmitting portion of the outer end face. The inner side walls of the niche are preferably made of or lined with a lightreflecting material to enhance the transmission of light from the outer end face to the inner end face around or over the urn. The window opening is preferably completely filled with niches so that the assemblage of inner end faces of the niches resembles a window.

'United States Patent [1 1 Pickel 1 Dec. 16, 1975 1 1 NICHES [75] Inventor: Robert Paul Pickel, New Berlin,

[22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 505,711

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-inpzirt of Ser. No. 362.630, May 21,

1973. abandoned.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 232,620 2/1961 Australia 52/308 470.835 11/1935 United Kingdom 1 52/306 1.351.337 12/1963 Franco t r 52/308 704.348 2/1965 Canada 52/307 Primary E.\'aminerFrank L. Abbott Assistant E.\'aminerLeslic A. Braun Attorney, Agent, or FirmArthur L. Morsell, Jr.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A window opening in one exterior wall of a mausoleum or like building is filled with box-shaped niches which are each of ample size to hold an urn for the ashes of a deceased person. Each niche has a transparent or translucent inner end panel which may be decorative and which is removably attached to the inner end of the niche, and each niche has a decorative outer end face with a light-transmitting portion which is permanently attached to the outer end of the niche. Each inner end panel contains glass inserts which are illuminated by outside light through the lighttransmitting portion of the outer end face. The inner side walls of the niche are preferably made of or lined with a light-reflecting material to enhance the transmission of light from the outer end face to the inner end face around or over the urn. The window opening is preferably completely filled. with niches so that the assemblage of inner end faces of the niches resembles a window.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures [52] US. Cl. 52/134; 52/133; 52/136; 52/315 [51] Int. Cl. E0411 13/00 [58] Field of Search 52/128, 133, 134, 135, 52/136, 315, 104, 306, 129, 307, 308; 27/1, 8; 21/75 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 475.003 5/1892 Treat 52/104 672.044 4/1901 Staples 1. 52/307 963.572 7/1910 lfft 52/133 X 2.115.264 4/1938 Henderson 52/306 2.125.410 8/1938 West 52/308 2.513.951 7/1950 McClellcn... 1. 27/1 2.907.090 10/1959 Gaspardo.... 27/8 3.076292 2/1963 Arbogast..... 52/136 3.254.773 6/1966 Diem 27/1 X 3.344.011 9/1967 Goozner 52/315 X 3.417.521 12/1968 Welsh 1. 52/134 X /O g I 2a 5 I Z0 Sheet 1 of 2 UQS. Patfint Dec. 16, 1975 US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,925,944

N INIMUM 11' w JOHN SMITH NICHES This application is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 362,630, filed May 21, 1973, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to niches for holding urns containing the ashes of deceased persons. In the past, such niches have been mounted on the walls of passageways in mausoleums or similar buildings but not in the window openings. In accordance with this invention, however, a mounting arrangement is provided for mounting groups of niches in window openings, the inner face of the niches being fitted with glass inserts so as to resemble a window, whereby formerly wasted space is utilized in a manner which adds to the attractiveness of the building while admitting outside light in an amount comparable to that admitted by a conventional window.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A window opening in one exterior wall of a building is filled with box-shaped niches which are each of ample size to hold an urn for the ashes of a deceased person. Each niche has an inner end panel and each niche has a decorative outer end face with a light-transmittiing portion which is attached to the outer end of the niche. The inner end faces contain glass inserts which are illuminated by outside light admitted through the light-transmitting portion of the outer end face. The window opening is preferably completely filled with niches so that the assemblage of decorative inner end faces of the niches resembles a window. The invention contemplates the assemblage as well as the improved niche per se.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one illustrative niche of this invention with its inner end panel removed;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the niche of FIG. 1 with its inner end panel mounted in place over the inner end of the niche, and with an urn in the niche;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view looking from inside the building, of an assemblage of niches mounted adjacent to each other within a window opening, there being an urn in each of the niches;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified niche with a clear glass inner panel;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a niche of the type of FIG. 5 on top, and a similar niche below which is like the top niche except that it has a faceted glass inner panel instead of clear glass;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a single flat urn in the bottom of the niche; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a niche like that of the lower niche in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 show one illustrative niche of this invention which comprises a hollow, box-shaped container 10 having a bottom wall 11, side walls 12, a top wall 13, an inner end panel 14, and an outer end face 16. The walls 11, 12, and 13 may be made of concrete, marble, granite, or other suitable material and are dimensioned so that the container will receive an urn 18 for holding the ashes of a deceased person. The outer end face 16 is preferably made of concrete or other moldable material and has a decorative sculptured exterior surface 20 and a central opening 22 within which an epoxy plug 24 containing glass inserts 26 is cemented. These are preferably clear glass. Glass inserts 26 are arranged in a decorative pattern in the center of plug 24. Outer end face 16 is secured to the outer ends of walls 11, 12 and 13 by means of epoxy cement or other suitable fastening means.

Inner end panel 14 preferably includes a bronze frame 28 which supports a flat epoxy plate 30 containing stained glass inserts 32. The stained glass inserts 32 are of different colors, sizes, and shapes and are arranged in a decorative pattern of which FIG. 3 is illustrative. Inner end panel 14 is attached to the inner ends of walls 1 1, l2, and 13 by means of bolts 34, preferably bronze, which pass through openings 36 in the corners of frame 28 and engage threaded anchors 38 in the inner end corners of side walls 12.

The purpose of the light colored or clear glass inserts 26 in the outer end face 16 is to admit exterior light into the interior of niche 10 to illuminate the stained glass inserts 32 of inner end panel 14. However, as best shown in FIG. 2, the um 18 blocks some of the light entering the niche 10 through clear glass inserts 26. Accordingly, it is preferable to have a reflecting surface on at least some and preferably all of the inner walls 11, 12, and 13 so that light will be reflected around um 18 and through the stained glass inserts 32 as indicated by the arrows A in FIG. 2. In cases where the side walls 12 are made out of marble or granite, a suitable reflecting surface can be provided by polishing the inner side walls 11, 12, and 13, but in cases where concrete is used for said walls, a separate reflecting surface is preferably provided. This can take the form of mirrors, either conventional type, or provided by a layer of aluminum paint 40 (or aluminum foil) which is applied to the interior of each side wall 12 and is preferably covered by clear glass plates 42 to create the mirror effect. The glass plates 42 may be secured to the surface of aluminum paint 40 by a suitable transparent cement. The reflecting surfaces thus provided substantially enhance the transmission of light from outer end face 16 to inner end face 14 around um 18.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a group of the individual niches 10 are arranged adjacent to each other in a window opening 44 with the outer end faces 16 on the outside of the window opening 44 and the inner end panels 14 on the inside of window opening 44. The individual niches 10 are preferably dimensioned and arranged to completely fill the window opening 44 so that the assemblage of decorative inner end panels 14 resembles a stained glass window. To completely fill window opening 44, the width and height of niches 10 are chosen to be substantially integral divisors of the height and width of the window opening 44 minus a small clearance to allow for mortar or cement joints 46 between adjacent niches 10 and between niches 10 and window opening 44. This arrangement also provides a decorative outer surface for the group of niches 10 in which the sculptured surfaces 20 combine to form a larger sculptured surface that completely fills the window opening. The central plugs 24 and clear gl inserts 26 of outer end faces 16 fomi a part of the l'zlf er sculptured surface and add to the decorative efleet m the exterior. Thus the niches of this invention utilize Window space that was heretofore wasted in mausoleums and similar buildings, and at the same time enhance the beauty of the window openings as seen from either the inside or the outside of the building.

The central plugs 24 in the outer end faces 16 are preferably smaller in diameter than the urns 18 so that the urns cannot be removed through the openings 22 in which plugs 24 are cemented. This prevents the urns 18 from being removed from the outside of niches 10 by vandals who may have knocked out one or more of the plugs 24.

Although FIG. 3 shows the same decorative pattern used for each of the inner end panels 14, it should be understood that different decorative patterns can be employed if desired for each of the inner end panels 14 as well as for the outer end. The number of different decorative patterns that may be employed is practically unlimited.

FIG. discloses a modification wherein the niche 110 is generally similar to the niches illustrated in FIGS. 14. The niche of FIG. 5, however, preferably has side walls 112, top walls 113 and bottom wall 111 formed of marble, granite or other material capable of being highly polished. This is for the purpose of lending light-reflecting qualities to the inside surfaces of the top and side walls. However, the lightreflecting qualities may be obtained by lining the walls with a light-reflecting material. In the form of the invention of FIG. 5, the outer end face 116 is permanently installed and is formed of faceted glass in any suitable pattern, such as the pattern shown in FIG. 5 or the pattern shown in FIG. 6. This faceted glass comprises glass inserts separated and held together by epoxy cement. In the form of the invention of FIG. 5, the inner face may comprise a clear glass panel 114 as shown in FIG. 5 and at the top of FIG. 6, or the inner panel may be of faceted glass as shown in the lower niche 210 of FIG. 6. In this case the inner panel 214 will be very similar to the outer panel 216 which, in turn, is similar to the outer panel 116, i.e. it may comprise clear glass inserts held together and separated by epoxy cement or other suitable means. The inner panels 1 14 and 214 may originally be removably mounted in grooves, the upper groove and one of the side grooves being of sufficient depth that the glass may be removably retained at the time the niche is sold, it being contemplated that the panes be later cemented in place after the urns with the remains of the deceased are in place within the niches. As a part of the invention shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, it is contemplated that the niches have fitted built-in urns of a flat type as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. In FIG. 5 there are twin urns 118 and 1 18' which substantially fit the width of the niche to occupy the entire floor thereof. In FIG. 7, there may be a single urn 118 filling the bottom of the niche. These urns may be cemented in place or may be removable, but they are fitted as shown. Where the urns are built in, they are preferably provided with top openings 151 to permit insertion of the ashes of a deceased person. A faceted ornament 152 may be placed over each opening 151 to close the same.

Where the niches are provided with clear glass inner panels, such as 114, the end of the urn may carry a plate such as the plate 153 bearing the name of the deceased, such plate being readily visible through the clear glass inner panel. Where the inner panel is formed of faceted glass as in the lower niche of FIG. 6 and as in FIG. 8, a plate 154 bearing the name of the deceased may be mounted on the inner panel.

With the above arrangement, a group of niches of the type shown in FIGS. 5-8 may be assembled in the same manner as shown in FIG. 3 adjacent each other in a window opening, with the outer faces 116 or 216 on the outside of the window and with the inner panels 114 or 214 on the inside of the window. The individual niches are preferably dimensioned and arranged to completely fill the window opening as in FIG. 3 so that the assemblage of inner end panels resembles a glass window. Where the inner panels are of faceted glass as at 214, this may be stained glass as heretofore described in connection with FIG. 3, and the entire assemblage will resemble a stained. glass window. In any event, light from the exterior which passes through the glass inserts 116 or 216 of the outer panels will pass through the niche, over the flat urns, and through the inner panels 114 or 214 to illuminate the room. Part of the light passing through the niche will be reflected against the highly polished inner surfaces of the side and top walls 112 and 1 13 of marble or the like. Thus, light will pass from the exterior through the inner panels 114 or 214 of the niches both directly and by reflection. Also, light passing through the niches will act on the faceted ornaments 152 to create an interesting effect.

In certain cases the urns 153 may not be built into the niches. These urns, however, will be fitted to the niches and can be taken out for filling by the lifting of a cover. Where the urns are built in, they are preferably cemented in place by epoxy cement so as to be nonremovable. In either case, they are sold as a part of the niche.

Regardless of whether the niches contain upright urns as shown in FIG. 4, or the flat urns of FIGS. 5-8, in all cases light will pass through from the exterior of the niche to the interior and, in all cases, some of the light will be reflected from walls of the niche. The flat urns provide an advantageous feature in that the urn can be a fitted part of the niche so that a separate urn need not be purchased. Furthermore, the use of the flat urns as in FIGS. 5-8 provide less interruption for the passage of light through the niche.

It is clear from the above that the improved niches provide strong enclosures which can be very easily and inexpensively installed by any mason. The result is a glass window which is much more durable than conventional windows.

What I claim is:

1. In a building having a window opening in an exterior wall thereof, the improvement comprising an assemblage of box-shaped niches positioned adjacent to each other within said window opening, each niche having side walls and having a bottom, urn means for the ashes of a deceased person supported on the bottoms of at least some of said niches, the inner end of each niche forming a receiving opening, a light-transmitting inner end panel removably fitted to the inner end of each container to close said receiving opening, there being an outer end panel for each niche which includes light-transmitting elements for admitting light from the exterior to said niche to pass therethrough through the light-transmitting inner end panel, the light-transmitting means at at least one of said ends forming a decorative window, the size of said urn means being minor with respect to the interior of the niche so as to allow space for the passage of light through the niche, said niches completely filling said window opening so that said inner end panels taken together serve as a large decorative window, the urn means of each niche being flat and fitted to the niche to form the bottom thereof, leaving a clear space thereabove for passage of light through the niche, and the inner surface of at least one of the side walls of the niche being provided with a special light-reflecting surface of a type which substantially enhances the reflection of light.

2. In a building having a window opening in an exterior wall thereof, the improvement comprising an as semblage of box-shaped niches positioned adjacent to each other within said window opening, each niche having side walls and having a bottom, urn means for the ashes of a deceased person supported on the bottoms of at least some of said niches, the inner end of each niche forming a receiving opening, a light-transmitting inner end panel removably fitted to the inner end of each container to close said receiving opening, there being an outer end panel for each niche which includes light-transmitting elements for admitting light from the exterior to said niche to pass therethrough through the light-transmitting inner end panel, the light-transmitting means at at least one of said ends forming a decorative window which includes colored faceted glass, the size of said urn means being minor with respect to the interior of the niche so as to allow space for the passage of light through the niche, said niches completely filling said window opening so that said inner end panels taken together serve as a large decorative window, the urn means of each niche being flat and fitted to the niche to form the bottom thereof, leaving a clear space thereabove for passage of light through the niche, and the inner surfaces of the side walls of the niche being provided with special lightreflecting surfaces of a type which substantially enhances the reflection of light.

3. In combination a niche comprising a hollow boxshaped container having oppositely disposed inner and outer ends and having side walls and having a bottom, urn means for the ashes of a deceased person supported on said bottom, the inner end of said container forming a receiving opening, a light-transmitting inner end panel removably fitted to the inner end of said container to close said receiving opening, and there being an outer end panel for said container which includes light-transmitting means for admitting light from the exterior to said niche to pass therethrough and through the light-transmitting inner end panel. the light-transmitting means at at least one of said ends forming a decorative window, the size of the urn means being such with respect to the interior of the niche as to allow space for the passage of light through the niche, the inner surface of at least one of the side walls of the niche being provided with a special light-reflective surface of a type substantially enhances the reflection of light.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 in which said inner surface is selected from a group comprising highly polished stone, a light-reflecting lining material, and mirror material.

5. The combination claimed in claim 3 in which said inner surface is formed of highly polished natural stone.

6. In combination a niche comprising a hollow boxshaped container having oppositely disposed inner and outer ends and having side walls and having a bottom, urn means for the ashes of a deceased person supported on said bottom, the inner end of said container forming a receiving opening, a light-transmitting inner end panel removably fitted to the inner end of said container to close said receiving opening, and there being an outer end panel for said container which includes light-transmitting means for admitting light from the exterior to said niche to pass therethrough and through the light-transmitting inner end panel, the light-transmitting means at at least one of said ends forming a decorative window, the size of the urn means being such with respect to the interior of the niche as to allow space for the passage of light through the niche, the inner surface of at least one of the side walls of the niche being provided with a special light-reflecting surface of a type which substantially enhances the reflection of light, and there being flat urn means fitted to the container to form the bottom thereof, leaving the space thereabove free for the passage of light through the niche above the urn means.

7. In a building having a window opening in an exterior wall thereof, the improvement comprising an assemblage of box-shaped niches positioned adjacent to each other within said window opening, each niche having side walls and having a bottom, urn means for the ashes of a deceased person supported on the bottoms of at least some of said niches, the inner end of each niche forming a receiving opening, a light-transmitting inner end panel removably fitted to the inner end of each container to close said receiving opening, there being an outer end panel for each niche which includes light-transmitting elements for admitting light from the exterior to said niche to pass therethrough the light-transmitting inner end panel, the light-transmitting means at at least one of said ends forming a decorative window, the size of said urn means being minor with respect to the interior ofthe niche so as to allow space for the passage of light through the niche, said niches completely filling said window opening so that said inner end panels taken together serve as a large decorative window, the inner surface of at least one of the side walls of the niche being provided with a special light-reflecting surface of a-type which substantially enhances the reflection of light. 

1. In a building having a window opening in an exterior wall thereof, the improvement comprising an assemblage of box-shaped niches positioned adjacent to each other within said window opening, each niche having side walls and having a bottom, urn means for the ashes of a deceased person supported on the bottoms of at least some of said niches, the inner end of each niche forming a receiving opening, a light-transmitting inner end panel removably fitted to the inner end of each container to close said receiving opening, there being an outer end panel for each niche which includes light-transmitting elements for admitting light from the exterior to said niche to pass therethrough through the light-transmitting inner end panel, the light-transmitting means at at least one of said ends forming a decorative window, the size of said urn means being minor with respect to the interior of the niche so as to allow space for the passage of light through the niche, said niches completely filling said window opening so that said inner end panels taken together serve as a large decorative window, the urn means of each niche being flat and fitted to the niche to form the bottom thereof, leaving a clear space thereabove for passage of light through the niche, and the inner surface of at least one of the side walls of the niche being provided with a special Light-reflecting surface of a type which substantially enhances the reflection of light.
 2. In a building having a window opening in an exterior wall thereof, the improvement comprising an assemblage of box-shaped niches positioned adjacent to each other within said window opening, each niche having side walls and having a bottom, urn means for the ashes of a deceased person supported on the bottoms of at least some of said niches, the inner end of each niche forming a receiving opening, a light-transmitting inner end panel removably fitted to the inner end of each container to close said receiving opening, there being an outer end panel for each niche which includes light-transmitting elements for admitting light from the exterior to said niche to pass therethrough through the light-transmitting inner end panel, the light-transmitting means at at least one of said ends forming a decorative window which includes colored faceted glass, the size of said urn means being minor with respect to the interior of the niche so as to allow space for the passage of light through the niche, said niches completely filling said window opening so that said inner end panels taken together serve as a large decorative window, the urn means of each niche being flat and fitted to the niche to form the bottom thereof, leaving a clear space thereabove for passage of light through the niche, and the inner surfaces of the side walls of the niche being provided with special light-reflecting surfaces of a type which substantially enhances the reflection of light.
 3. In combination a niche comprising a hollow box-shaped container having oppositely disposed inner and outer ends and having side walls and having a bottom, urn means for the ashes of a deceased person supported on said bottom, the inner end of said container forming a receiving opening, a light-transmitting inner end panel removably fitted to the inner end of said container to close said receiving opening, and there being an outer end panel for said container which includes light-transmitting means for admitting light from the exterior to said niche to pass therethrough and through the light-transmitting inner end panel, the light-transmitting means at at least one of said ends forming a decorative window, the size of the urn means being such with respect to the interior of the niche as to allow space for the passage of light through the niche, the inner surface of at least one of the side walls of the niche being provided with a special light-reflective surface of a type substantially enhances the reflection of light.
 4. The combination recited in claim 3 in which said inner surface is selected from a group comprising highly polished stone, a light-reflecting lining material, and mirror material.
 5. The combination claimed in claim 3 in which said inner surface is formed of highly polished natural stone.
 6. In combination a niche comprising a hollow box-shaped container having oppositely disposed inner and outer ends and having side walls and having a bottom, urn means for the ashes of a deceased person supported on said bottom, the inner end of said container forming a receiving opening, a light-transmitting inner end panel removably fitted to the inner end of said container to close said receiving opening, and there being an outer end panel for said container which includes light-transmitting means for admitting light from the exterior to said niche to pass therethrough and through the light-transmitting inner end panel, the light-transmitting means at at least one of said ends forming a decorative window, the size of the urn means being such with respect to the interior of the niche as to allow space for the passage of light through the niche, the inner surface of at least one of the side walls of the niche being provided with a special light-reflecting surface of a type which substantially enhances the reflection of light, and there being flat urn means fitted to the container to form the bottom thereof, leaving the spacE thereabove free for the passage of light through the niche above the urn means.
 7. In a building having a window opening in an exterior wall thereof, the improvement comprising an assemblage of box-shaped niches positioned adjacent to each other within said window opening, each niche having side walls and having a bottom, urn means for the ashes of a deceased person supported on the bottoms of at least some of said niches, the inner end of each niche forming a receiving opening, a light-transmitting inner end panel removably fitted to the inner end of each container to close said receiving opening, there being an outer end panel for each niche which includes light-transmitting elements for admitting light from the exterior to said niche to pass therethrough the light-transmitting inner end panel, the light-transmitting means at at least one of said ends forming a decorative window, the size of said urn means being minor with respect to the interior of the niche so as to allow space for the passage of light through the niche, said niches completely filling said window opening so that said inner end panels taken together serve as a large decorative window, the inner surface of at least one of the side walls of the niche being provided with a special light-reflecting surface of a type which substantially enhances the reflection of light. 